Locally elevated CO2 concentrations may lead to some negative impact on marine ecosystems. For instance, it may exacerbate acidification in low buffered water and stimulate algae bloom in eutrophic areas. Therefore, it is crucial to select the areas that are sensitive to elevated CO2 concentrations. The result will guide this new technique, GasDrive, to be applied in an efficient, but also environmental friendly way.

The GasDrive project focuses on increasing the energy efficiency of Liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered ships. The highly efficient innovative engine exhausts gasses (almost entirely CO2) underwater along the ship’s hull. This underwater exhaust system is expected to reduce the ship’s resistance. On the other hand, it could lead to locally increased CO2 concentrations in the water (Link of the GasDrive project: http://www.wur.nl/en/project/GASDRIVE-2.htm).

Literature study will be performed for selecting the low buffering capacity and high nutrient level areas. Information about shipping route frequency will be collected via literature study and shipping companies who are also involved in this GasDrive project (e.g. Figure 1 shows the global merchant fleet over the course of 2012). Finally, ArcGIS program will be used to map and highlight those areas that have a low buffering capacity but high nutrient levels and shipping route frequency. Those areas will be identified as sensitive areas for applying GasDrive ships in the future.Interested?

Objectives

This thesis focuses on the selecting and mapping of areas that are sensitive to elevated CO2 concentrations, along with the selecting and mapping of high frequency shipping routes. The selection criteria will include 1) low buffering capacity; 2) high nutrient level and 3) high frequency shipping routes.